Karnataka clears investment proposals worth Rs.

35,785 crore The Karnataka government on Friday cleared industrial investment proposals amounting to over Rs.35,785 crore, including an expansion by JSW Steel in the state's Bellary district where its plant is located. The steel major plans to set up a 2.3 million-tonne-per annum (mtpa) cold rolled mill at an investment of Rs.4,190 crore as part of its forward integration.

Montek Approves Rs.49k-cr Outlay for AP in FY 13 The Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a plan size of Rs.48,935crore for Andhra Pradesh for the year 2012-13, an increase of 13,8% over the previous fiscal. The plan size was finalised here in a meeting between Commission's deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy.

the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) has been constituted as an apex body dedicated to continuous research, technology development and transfer, education as well as scientific, technological and industrial services for the cement, related building materials and construction industries. It acts as a preferred technology partner to such sectors in the sustainable development of a better infrastructure and housing. NCB carries on its activities through its units located at Ballabhgarh, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Bhubaneswar. NCB's activities are channelised through its following six programme centres:

Cement Research and Independent Testing Mining, Environment, Plant Engineering and Operation Construction Development and Research Industrial Information Services Continuing Education Services Quality Management, Standards and Calibration Services

he setting up of a 'Development Council for Cement Industry' under the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951. The Council promotes the development of the cement industry in India, through various measures, by providing funds for developmental projects. The source of funding the activities of the Council is the cess collected by it from the cement manufacturers in terms of Cement Cess Rules, 1993. The various projects of this Council are:-

Base Level activities of NCB and R&D projects initiated by it for the development of the cement industry. Projects for improvement of the productivity of the industry by reducing cost. Projects for optimum utilisation of raw materials. Projects for modernisation of cement plants. Projects for improvement of environment. Projects for standardisation and quality control programmes. Projects for development of bulk supply and distribution of cement. Projects for training and upgradation of the skill of the personnel in the cement industry.

During 2007-08, the Council has received an allocation of Rs. 3.50 crore for making expenditure on the above activities.

in order to improve and supplement the industry's performance, the Department has constituted a 'Working Group on Cement Industry' for the formulation of the 11th Plan. The report of this working group emphasizes the importance of bulk cement transportation, use of ready mix concrete and reduction of taxes and levies on cement. It also seeks regulatory support for creating framework for co-processing of wastes, co-generation of power and enhanced support to R&D activities to align the technology regime with the best of the world.